It is endemic to Serra do Mar in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states, Brazil.

[3] Proceratophrys melanopogon is endemic to the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil.

After heavy rain has fallen creating temporary pools and streamlets, large numbers of male frogs gather together and call to attract females.

[3] The total range of Proceratophrys melanopogon is probably less than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) but the primary and old secondary forest it inhabits does not seem to be significantly threatened by tourism and human development, and part of it is in national parks or in otherwise protected areas.

This frog is quite common and though its numbers may be decreasing, they are not doing so at a fast enough rate as to make the species threatened, and the IUCN lists it as being of "least concern".